ROSTRATED CHiETODON. 
165 
of rivers in India in search of food, and the manner 
in which it takes its prey is most singular. When 
it sees a fly on the plants which border the stream, 
it approaches in a very slow and cautious manner, 
till it arrives within four, five, or six feet of the ob- 
ject, and there rests for a moment, perfectly still, 
with its eyes directed towards the fly. When the 
fatal aim is taken, the fish shoots a single drop of 
water from its mouth, with such dexterity that it 
never fads to strike the fly into the water, where it 
soon becomes its prey. 
When Mr. Hommel first heard of this singular fish, 
it so raised his curiosity, that although the account 
was well attested, he felt desirous to be convinced 
of the truth of it by ocular demonstration : he there- 
fore ordered a capacious tub to be filled with water, 
and some of these fish put into it : When they had 
been there a sufficient time to become reconciled to 
their confinement, he determined to try the experi- 
ment ; and accordingly pinned a fly to the end of a 
slender stick, which was placed in such a direction 
by the side of the vessel that the fish could easily 
strike it. Every thing succeeded to his wish ; and 
he assures us that he daily saw these fish exer- 
cising their skill in shooting at the fly, and that 
with a dexterity which never failed to hit the 
mark. 
The fish never exposes any part of its mouth out 
of the water, though it frequently shoots a great 
many drops one after another without leaving its 
